Australian Apprentice Banned Six Months For ‘Total Disregard’ Of COVID-19 Precautions

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards have disqualified apprentice jockey Zoe White for six months after she defied a Steward's direction to stand down from riding.

In a Stewards Inquiry held via telephone on Thursday, White was handed the strong penalty after she attended track-work in Rockhampton Wednesday despite being directed to stand down from riding and to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The stand down order came after White rode track work and nominated to ride in Central Zone 6 earlier this week, in contravention to the new Covid-19 zoning rules requiring her to ride in Brisbane Metro South West Zone 2, which is the same region as her Master.

Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said the actions of this apprentice jockey to place the industry and the community at risk were very serious and would not be tolerated.

“The zoning rules have been put in place to protect the health and safety of racing industry participants and the public in unprecedented times,” he said. “The adoption of designated racing regions to further support the Queensland Government's direction to stay local, reduce non-essential travel and to limit the spread of COVID-19 are non-negotiable.

“These new rules are currently protecting the livelihoods of thousands of people in the racing industry, to flout them shows a total disregard for the difficult situation everyone is currently facing. Six months disqualification is an appropriate penalty and a lesson for every racing participant to abide by these directions at all times.”